Coughing / sneezing chicken...please help :(

[ChasesChickens]

Hi everyone I have a sneezing chicken who seems to be panting. I've checked oine and think she needs antibiotics. I've got oxymav B antibiotics and VetRx. Anyone know or suggest what's wrong . I got her from a backyard breeder. I've since moved her to a care area .. but any advice would be greatly appreciated
Video of her here

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi everyone I have a sneezing chicken who seems to be panting. I've checked oine and think she needs antibiotics. I've got oxymav B antibiotics and VetRx. Anyone know or suggest what's wrong . I got her from a backyard breeder. I've since moved her to a care area .. but any advice would be greatly appreciated
Video of her here

How often is she sneezing?
Any mucous from the nostrils or water/bubbly/pus filled eyes?

How long have you had her?

If you have vet care or can get some testing to find out more about the cause of her symptoms that's best.

There are several respiratory diseases that can look similar - some are bacterial while others are viral. Antbiotics can help treat symptoms of bacteria like diseases like Mycoplasma and Infectious Coryza. Viral diseases like Infectious Bronchitis usually run their course over a period of weeks, but sometimes antibiotics are needed as supportive care to treat secondary infection.
If it's Mycoplasma, then the Oxymav B (Oxytetracycline) can be used to treat symptoms. Some use Tylosin or Tiamulin.

Keep in mind respiratory diseases make birds carriers and antibiotics are not a cure, but used to treat/control infection and act as supportive care.

Environmental causes of respiratory symptoms should also be looked at as well - mold/mildew, poor ventilation and ammonia are a few.

Here's more information about respiratory diseases http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[ChasesChickens]

How often is she sneezing?
Any mucous from the nostrils or water/bubbly/pus filled eyes?

How long have you had her?

If you have vet care or can get some testing to find out more about the cause of her symptoms that's best.

There are several respiratory diseases that can look similar - some are bacterial while others are viral. Antbiotics can help treat symptoms of bacteria like diseases like Mycoplasma and Infectious Coryza. Viral diseases like Infectious Bronchitis usually run their course over a period of weeks, but sometimes antibiotics are needed as supportive care to treat secondary infection.
If it's Mycoplasma, then the Oxymav B (Oxytetracycline) can be used to treat symptoms. Some use Tylosin or Tiamulin.

Keep in mind respiratory diseases make birds carriers and antibiotics are not a cure, but used to treat/control infection and act as supportive care.

Environmental causes of respiratory symptoms should also be looked at as well - mold/mildew, poor ventilation and ammonia are a few.

Here's more information about respiratory diseases http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Hi @Wyorp Rock,

No obvious mucous from the nostrils or pus in the eyes. She does look a little.. stuffy in the eyes but its not so bad.

I recently got her from a backyard hobbiyst about... 3 weeks ago and only really think she developed this cough about 3-4 days ago.

When you say that respiratory diseases make birds carriers.. will that put our other birds in danger throughout her life?

Im in sydney and we have recently been experiencing terrible rains and floods (after those bush fires). I noticed one of our other hens got a bit sick but shes better now.. and i noticed that a lot of fellow chicken keepers were talking about sick birds because of the rains.

Our coop is actually realy well ventillated. Mold and mildrew isnt really a problem , nor ammonia (im in the coop a fair bit looking at the hens and in the run.. and it doesnt smell at all. We have deep bedding and its really dry.

Maybe it is some sort of cold/flu because of the rain?
I have Oxymav B - so i will administer that tomorrow. Not really keen on antibiotics, but shes coughing about every few minutes at times. Sometimes it goes quiet for hours.

Thanks so much for the link.. i will read about it more now.

Regards
Chase

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I recently got her from a backyard hobbiyst about... 3 weeks ago and only really think she developed this cough about 3-4 days ago.

When you say that respiratory diseases make birds carriers.. will that put our other birds in danger throughout her life?

I noticed one of our other hens got a bit sick but shes better now.. and i noticed that a lot of fellow chicken keepers were talking about sick birds because of the rains.

Maybe it is some sort of cold/flu because of the rain?
I have Oxymav B - so i will administer that tomorrow. Not really keen on antibiotics, but shes coughing about every few minutes at times. Sometimes it goes quiet for hours.

Did your existing hen have similar symptoms?
The new hen may have actually picked something up from your flock.

Chickens don't get colds - they have respiratory diseases. Weather can influence symptoms though.

Carriers means that the birds can carry the disease (for all their life depending on the disease) and pass it on to others. Sometimes birds never show any symptoms at all, while others may become symptomatic at times.
With her coughing every few minutes, I would try the antibiotics to see if that helps her. I would only treat her if that's possible instead of the flock drinking the medicated water too.
If you have vet care, they may be able to give you something that you can administer orally so she can stay/be near the others.

 

[Eggcessive]

You may want to learn a little about the 2 most common respiratory diseases, infectious bronchitis (IB) and mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG.) MG is a chronic respiratory disease while IB is a disease that lasts about a month, causes frequent sneezing, and usually spreads to other flock members. They remain carriers for up to a year after recovery. MG causes chronic infection that may clear up and not appear, or can appear again during periods of stress. Eye bubbles, swelling around an eye, and congestion are common symptoms. They may be carriers for life, and the other flock members may test positive for it even though they haven’t shown symptoms. MG may respond to certain antibiotics, while IB has to run it’s course over a month. IB can cause wrinkled or thin egg shells, and later can cause reproductive disorders.